Bronchoscope having means for producing mechanical vibrations in the bronchial tract



Aprll 25, 1967 GOLDFARB 3,315,663

BRONCHOSCOPE HAVING MEANS FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN THEBRONCHIAL TRACT Filed April 2, 1964 F 1G. I.

FLEXIBLE 5 I VIBRATOR LIGHT CARRIER l T0 BATTERY INVENTOR HERMANGOLDFARB BY United States Patent 3,315,663 BRONCHOSCOPE HAVING MEANS FORPRODUC- ING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN THE BRON- CHIAL TRACT HermanGoldfarb, 1616 160th St., Whitestone, N.Y. 11357 Filed Apr. 2, 1964,Ser. No. 356,918 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-4) This invention relates to anapparatus for the application of mechanical vibrations to the humaninterior especially to the respiratory tract.

It is one of the objects of the invention to facilitate removal of mucusfrom the human respiratory tract by rendering such mucus more mobile orless viscous by means of applying mechanical vibrations directly to themucus.

Another object of the invention is to combine a bronchoscope, endoscopeor any similarly shaped tubular insert of more or less standardconstruction or dimensions with a mechanical or electro-mechanicalvibrator attached thereto or formed thereon to permit during observationof the respiratory tract to subject the mucus to certain shearing,stirring, or other type of vibratory forces to increase its mobility andfacilitate its removal.

Still another object of the invention is to apply While subjecting themucus to such forces a liquid preferably a saline or other solutionwhich mixes with the mucus and serves as a coupling between thevibrating element and the mucus, thereby further increasing mobility andfacilitating removal.

A more specific object of the invention is to apply these shearing orstirring vibratory forces by means of an elongated element or tubingeither formed of the bronchoscope or endoscope or supported insidethereof and extending therefrom into the respiratory passages, so thatthe elongated element while vibrating can be moved and adjusted from theoutside while the respiratory tract is under observation through theendoscope or a similar tube when inserted in the respiratory tracttogether with a light source permitting such visual observation.

Still further, an object of the invention is to couple the vibratingelement whether in the form of a bronchoscope tube itself or in the formof an additional tubing inserted into the bronchoscope, with anelectro-mechanical vibration source for example an element consisting ofmagnetostrictive material which will be excited to the desired pulsations, vibrations or shearing movements by an electromagnetic systemcooperating therewith in otherwise well known manner and also arrangedoutside at the upper end of the bronchoscope without, however,obstructing access to the opening of the bronchoscope and therebyobservation of the respiratory tract during such vibrations.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully apparentfrom the drawings annexed herewith in which FIG. 1 represents an exampleof realization of the invention in front elevation, and FIGS. 2 and 3corresponding side views from opposite directions. FIG. 4 shows anotherembodiment of the invention in a similar elevation and FIG. 5 a crosssection at a predetermined point of the device.

In investigations and experiments underlying the invention it has beenfound that the mucus of the human respiratory tract may be rendered moremobile, less viscous and more easily removed from the bronchial treeafter it has had certain shear forces applied to it for certain lengthsof time. This has been accomplished in vivo and in vitro, using manytypes of shearing devices. Ultra sound waves of the order of frequencyof 20,000 c.p.s. have been found effective in vivo and in vitro inbringing about these changes.

3,315,663 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 As apparent from FIG. 1, a bronchoscopeor endoscope of more or less standard construction, i.e. of a length ofabout 50 cm. and inner diameter of about 9 mm., as schematicallyindicated at 1, is provided at the proximal end with a tubingschematically indicated at 2 and consisting of a fluted nickelmagnetostrictor.

This magnetostrictively active element is excited to vibrations inotherwise well known manner by means of a magnetic coil or coilsschematically indicated in FIG. 1 at 3, and supplied from an amplifierand power source not shown with power of a frequency to reproduce sonicand preferably supersonic vibrations of predetermined frequency, say ofthe order of 20,000 c.p.s. which are transmitted through bronchoscopetube into the respiratory tract at desired positions thereof and exposedto visual observation through tube 1.

Magnetostrictive element 2 has a cross-section as indicated in FIG. 2including a number of teeth contributing to the vibrations desired toproduce the shearing or stirring action in accordance with theinvention. Another side view of tube 1 from opposite direction isindicated In FIG. 2.

It is of course possible without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure to make the entire tube 1 instead of only an end portionthereof of magnetostrictive material or to cause tube 1 to vibrate inany other desired manner, for example by coupling its end to any type ofelectromagnetic or electrodynamic transducer.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, amagnetostrictive device of otherwise well known construction andschematically indicated in FIG. 5 at 4, is coupled to a flexible probeschematically indicated at 5 and extending through bronchoscope 6 intothe interior of the respiratory tract, its distal end projecting frombronchoscope 4, as schematically indicated at 6 and movable up and downand even sidewise as schematically indicated in FIG. 5 by arrows 7.

Vibrating probe 5 may be made of glass, plastic, or metal such astitanium. It should be flexible in order to permit transmission of themagnetostrictive vibration of the source of vibration or the vibrationproducing magnetostrictive element, electromagnetic armature orelectrodynamic coil to the desired portion of the respiratory tract inorder to produce there the desired shearing or stirring movement and thedesired increase of mobility of the mucus.

The flexibility of vibrating probe 5 is also desired to permit the probewhen emerging from bronchoscope 6 to be bent around at 7, so as topermit operation of the vibrating probe 5 without obstructing visualobservation through the "bronchoscope 6 in direction of arrow 8.

Simultaneously with vibrating probe 5 there is inserted in otherwisewell known manner in bronchoscope 6 a light carrier in the form of asmall light schematically indicated at 9 and connected over anelectrical connection schematically indicated at 10, to a battery or anyother power source not shown.

In accordance with a modification of the invention, vibrating probe 5may itself consist partially or wholly of magnetostrictive material andbe directly excited by an electromagnetic field to the desiredvibrations without departing from the scope of the invention.

Such a magnetostrictive device coupled to a small diameter long metalprobe was successfully passed down a bronchoscope into the bronchi ofmany experimental dogs without ill effects clinically or histologically.

This was done on an adult male human as well and viscosity decrease wasdocumented quantitatively, and this demonstrates the feasibility ofcombining a bronchoscope or other endoscope with a source of vibratoryenergy to transmit this energy into the human respiratory tract with thepurpose of rendering mucus more easily O removed iatrogenically or moreeasily raised by the patient himself.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a saline solutionor other solutions, may be lavaged into the bronchi simultaneously withapplication of sound energy and especially supersonic frequencies to aidin the mechanical coupling of the probe to the mucus to increase heatdissipation, to accomplish lavage of mucus, and to facilitate energytransfer to more distal points in the tract than those actuallycontacted by the probe.

Such solution may be applied either through a bronchoscope such as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, and/or through a bronchoscope as shown in FIGS. 4 and6, or through the vibrating probe itself, which may be designed in theform of a tube.

In an embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in which the endoscopeor bronchoscope becomes a vibratable element, the contact .point islimited to the larger bronchi.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein a separate wire ortubular probe is inserted down the tract in the endoscope and isconnected to a remote vibrating energy source, the wire or tubular probecan be extended beyond the limit of the endoscope itself and therebyenter smaller caliber airways.

In all these cases the entire device and especially the probe itself isto be constructed in an explosion-proof manner with Underwriter approvalof suitable materials to give good energy transfer, for example: glass,titanium. Furthermore, the design should permit easy manoeuverability bythe endoscopist.

The use of vibration frequencies in the audio range (below 20,000c.p.s.) is also disclosed as feasible. In this case, audio generatorsmay be employed as energy sources.

While the invention has been described and illustrated by using specificmaterials and specifically shaped and arranged elements, the inventionis not limited thereto, but may be applied in any other appropriatemanner without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A bronchial insert comprising an elongated viewing tube dimensionedto be received in the bronchi of an individual, said tube havingproximal and distal ends and permitting visual observation of its distalend from said proximal end,

said proximal end having vibratable means associated therewith forcausing vibrations to be produced throughout the entire length of saidtube including said distal end and the space adjacent thereto, so as tocause mucus accumulated in said space to reduce its viscosity.

2. A bronchial insert according to claim 1 wherein said vibratable meansis an elongated element extending through said tube in the direction ofthe axis of said tubing and means at said proximal end for causing saidelement to vibrate.

3. A bronchial insert according to claim 1, wherein said vibratablemeans consists of a flexible rod arranged inside said bronchial insertand having a cross-section which is small compared to the cross-sectionof said insert to enable said visual observation.

4. A bronchial insert according to claim 3, wherein said rod is a tubinglongitudinally adjustable with respect to said bronchial insert.

5. A bronchial insert according to claim 1, wherein said vibratablemeans is at least partially formed of mag netostrictive material.

6. A bronchial insert according to claim 1, where said vibratable meansincludes a vibratable element at the proximal end of said bronchialinsert, and said, vibratable means includes pulse producing means, andmeans arranged along said insert to transmit energy from said pulseproducing means to said element.

7. A bronchial insert according to claim 1, comp-rising means forpassing through said bronchial insert to said vibratable means, a liquidadapted to dissolve into the mucus, acting as a transmission mediumbetween vibratable means and mucus.

8. A bronchial insert according to claim 1, where said vibratable meansis coupled to magnetostrictive means arranged at the proximal end ofsaid bronchial insert and cooperating with said magnetostrictive meansto vibrate; said magnetostrictive surrounding said proximal end of saidinsert so as to permit observation of its distal end from its proximalend.

9. A bronchial insert according to claim 1 and further comprising alightsource attached to said tube to enhance said visual observation throughsaid tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,496 8/1943Rocard IMO-26 X 2,635,388 4/1953 Peyches et al. 4943 2,668,529 2/1954Huter l28-24 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,864 2/1912 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

DALTON L. TRULUCK, Examiner.

1. A BRONCHIAL INSERT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED VIEWING TUBE DIMENSIONEDTO BE RECEIVED IN THE BRONCHI OF AN INDIVIDUAL, SAID TUBE HAVINGPROXIMAL AND DISTAL ENDS AND PERMITTING VISUAL OBSERVATION OF ITS DISTANEND FROM SAID PROXIMAL END, SAID PROXIMAL END HAVING VIBRATABLE MEANSASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR CAUSING VIBRATIONS TO BE PRODUCED THROUGHOUTTHE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID TUBE INCLUDING SAID DISTAL END AND THE SPACEADJACENT THERETO, SO AS TO CAUSE MUCUS ACCUMULATED IN SAID SPACE TOREDUCE ITS VISCOSITY.